Last Update on: September 12th, 2023 at 08:58 pm
India have struck thrice in quick succession through Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah defending 213. Bumrah dismissed Pathum Nissanka (6) and Kusal Mendis (15) and Siraj came back to dismiss the Sri Lankan Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.
In the absence of Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur, Siraj and Bumrah are leading the attack. Hardik Pandya is the third seamer in the attack. India have decided to field three spinners against Sri Lanka in Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel.
Siraj dismissed Karunaratne in the eighth over of the Sri Lankan innings. He was the third wicket to fall in the first 10 overs. Bowling from over the wicket, Siraj bowled a good length delivery that started to rise. Karunarate failed the ball to keep it down and edged it to Shubman Gill in the second slip.
Watch: Mohammed Siraj’s Celebration After Dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne
Sharp catch & goneeee! 👆@mdsirajofficial gets his first wicket of the night with a peach of a delivery!#TeamIndia have their tails up! 🔥
Tune-in to #AsiaCupOnStar, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network#INDvSL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/Nsn4bJG5n1
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 12, 2023
— No-No-Crix (@Hanji_CricDekho) September 12, 2023
What was interesting to see was Siraj’s celebration after he took the wicket. He made a finger-on-the-lips celebration to send the Lankan fanbase in the stadium to silence.
Earlier in the game, India after a good start lost wickets in a cluster. From being 80/1, they were bowled out for 213 as they lost all 10 wickets to spin for the very first time in ODI cricket history.
Dunith Wellalage took 5/40 and part-time spinner Charith Asalanka took 4/18 in nine overs and missed his maiden ODI fifer by a whisker. Maheesh Theekshana took 1 for 41 as they made the best of the conditions that the Colombo track had to offer.
“I want to thank my coaches and management especially my spin bowling coach. I tried to bowl my normal variations and not give runs. My dream wicket was Kohli’s wicket. The surface is uneven and it is not easy but we have a good batting line-up, we will give a good fight,” said Wellalage on his spell during the mid-innings break.
